Reyes misses late FTs as UP loses heartbreaker to Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines – Once again, UP was right there. 

With less than a second left on the game clock and Ateneo ahead 70-69, Mikee Reyes was at the free throw line. All he needed to do was to make one to send the game to overtime. If he made both, the Fighting Maroons would escape with their second win in Season 77 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament,.

Reyes had already exploded for 15 points in the fourth quarter. However, with the pressure at its highest, he missed the first free throw. And a few moments later, he missed the second.

The Blue Eagles corralled the rebound and the game was over. Add another heartbreaker to University of the Philippines’ devastating losses this season.

Kiefer Ravena finished with another MVP-caliber performance by going for 18 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Nico Elorde contributed 12 markers, 7 boards, and 3 dimes.

Ateneo rookie Arvin Tolentino broke out of his recent funk in the second round by scoring 8 points (his highest output in five games) and hauled down 9 rebounds. Freshman Thirdy Ravena also had an impressive showing as he registered a career-high 8 points.

Reyes, a 70% free throw shooter before missing his two late charities, totaled 19 points while JR Gallarza had 18 markers and 6 boards. Diego Dario contributed 13 in his second straight double-digit scoring output.

“I’m not happy with how we won,” a displeased Coach Bo Perasol said after the game, as his Blue Eagles surrendered a 13-point lead in the second half.

“UP played a strange style of basketball. It was the most uncomfortable game I had to coach,” he added. “Ang goal is to be top two. (the goal is to make it to the top two of the standings.) We have to push to get to that, at alam ko kaya namin. (and I know we can do it.)

The Fighting Maroons also had a one-point lead in the final minutes in their last game against FEU, but allowed the Tamaraws to go on a late 7-0 run to escape with the win.

After trailing by as much as 13 in the third period, UP managed to get back in the fourth quarter mostly thanks to the hot shooting of Reyes, who quickly scored five straight points to tie the game at 59 midway through the fourth period.

With his club’s lead gone, Ravena started to take over by scoring five of Ateneo’s next seven points to build a 66-62 cushion. Moments later, Chris Newsome got to the free throw line and extended ADMU’s lead to six with a little over three minutes to go.

After both teams exchanged baskets, a huge foul by the elder Ravena brother sent Gallarza to the line, where he converted two out of three charities. Not long after, another Reyes triple cut the Blue Eagles lead to one, 70-69

A Fighting Maroons turnover awarded Ateneo the ball with 34.7 seconds to go as they held on to a one-point lead. However, an offensive foul on Tolentino gave UP a chance to re-take the lead with 17.3 seconds to go.

With Elorde on him, Dario attacked the basket but missed a short stab at the rim. But the Fighting Maroons got another chance to win the game after Ravena missed his two free throws.

Reyes was shadowed by Newsome, whose defense was deemed too aggressive by the game’s officials and was called for a foul.

But instead of escaping with the win, UP came away with their 11th loss of the season due to Reyes’ two misses.

After the game, the disappointed Reyes took to Twitter:

Blame me.

— Mikee Reyes (@m9keereyes) September 3, 2014

UP Coach Rey Madrid related to Fighting Maroons courtside reporter Gabby Dario that he is proud of the way his boys played nonetheless:

"I’m so proud of the way this whole team played the WHOLE game. It’s not about one guy. We never condemn anybody here." – Coach Rey

— Gabby Dario (@gabbydario) September 3, 2014

Both teams were close to even in the rebounding department, with Ateneo winning out by only two, 37-35. The Blue Eagles also compiled more assists, 15-11, and had more attempts at the foul line, 24/29-15/21.

The Fighting Maroons went 8/19 from downtown, while Ateneo hit only 2-of-13 .

ADMU improves to 9-3 on the season, and will face the Adamson Soaring Falcons next on Saturday, September 6. UP, on the other hand, falls to 1-11.

Tolentino was aggressive to start the game as he converted all of Ateneo’s first six points by getting to the line and making easy layups. But UP managed to stay within striking distance and take the lead thanks to Dave Moralde, who finished the first period with 11 points thanks to a couple of long-range shots.

Entering the second period, Ateneo was ahead by one, 16-15.

UP opened the second quarter by scoring the first five points to build a four-point lead that could have been more had they not committed multiple turnovers on consecutive possessions.

Successive trips to the charity stripe by Ravena and Newsome returned the momentum back to Ateneo’s side, as they went ahead 22-20 despite shooting only 25% from the field at that point. 

Both teams continued to struggle on the following plays. Despite hitting five perimeter jumpers, the Fighting Maroons struggled to get any production from the paint, making just one of their first five attempts inside. The Blue Eagles, on the other hand, missed their first 11 jumpers, but managed to gather consecutive visits to the charity stripe.

At the half, ADMU had a slim five-point advantage over UP, 29-24, thanks in large part to their 19-of-22 showing from the free throw line.

Scores

ADMU (70): Ravena 18, Elorde 12, Tolentino 8, Babilonia 8, Ravena 8, Newsome 4, Pessumal 4, Doliguez 4, Javeliosa 2, Ported 2, Capacio 0, Tolentino 0, Asistio 0, Apacible 0, Gotladera 0, Lim 0

UP (69): Reyes 19, Gallarza 18, Diego 13, Moralde 11, Vito 2, Lao 2, Asilum 2, Juruena 2, Gingerich 0, Harris 0, Bederi 0

Quarter Scores: 16-15 29-24, 56-48, 70-69

– Rappler.com